Fight enlivens Oakland’s win over Denver.
Wild one: Oakland still in West race after besting Broncos
OAKLAND >> For all the Raiders’ misery this season, they’re somehow one game from the division lead.
That’s what a sub-.500 record gets you these days in the paltry AFC
West, and the Raiders are nestled in the thick of that uninspiring race after improving to 5-6 on Sunday.
Amid the theatrics of a first-quarter brawl that resulted in three ejections, a cringe-worthy second-quarter head injury to Amari Cooper that prevented him from returning and a semi-revival of Oakland’s defense, the hosts squeaked out a 21-14 win against the reeling Broncos (3-8) at the Coliseum. Miraculously, the Raiders control their own destiny to win the division, and their Week 14 matchup in Kansas City could vault them into first place.
“All we can control is to go out there and practice our butts off and come out there and get this win,” Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin said. “You win, it takes care of everything.”
The Broncos, on the other hand, have lost seven in a row and star cornerback Aqib Talib seemed to have no intention of playing football on Sunday.
As Michael Crabtree carried out a block on a running play early in the first quarter — maybe it was more than a block — Talib snatched Crabtree’s chain. Again. Last time the two faced each other in Week 17 last season, Talib ripped Crabtree’s chain off his neck.
Crabtree didn’t play in the teams’ first matchup this season with a chest injury, so the rematch waited until now. An all-out brawl erupted when Talib yanked Crabtree’s chain off his body this time. Six Broncos piled on top of Crab-
tree. Donald Penn readied himself in a boxing stance. Crabtree threw a punch at Talib in the end zone while leaving the field. Marshawn Lynch even escorted Talib through the Raiders sideline before he headed into the tunnel so Talib wouldn’t go after Crabtree again.
In all, Crabtree, Talib and Oakland right guard Gabe Jackson were ejected — Jackson for shoving an official while going after Denver linebacker Shane Ray.
“If I would’ve told you that both our starting receivers and our right guard would be out for the game, I’m pretty sure the feeling would’ve been a lot different for people on the outside,” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said. “Anytime you lose starters, it hurts.”
As if the game couldn’t get any crazier in the first half, the Raiders grabbed their first interception of the year. In the end zone after two deflections. By run-stopping linebacker NaVorro Bowman while he was lying on his back.
The Raiders’ first pick in 615 minutes and 52 seconds of game time this season turned into seven points, when Carr found Cooper wide open on a fade from 9 yards out. Oakland tacked onto its lead when Lynch found paydirt from 1 yard out on third-and-goal, giving the Raiders a 14-0 lead heading into the break.
And like the Patriots did last Sunday in Mexico City, the Raiders struck first in the second half to make it a three-score contest. That was just enough to last Oakland until game’s end, as Denver backup Trevor Siemian teased a comeback with two touchdown passes.
“Got a little interesting at the end,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. “You’d like to not let it get that interesting.”
Next up for the Raiders are the 2-9 Giants. The Chiefs sit atop the division at 6-5 after starting 4-0, and the Chargers are 5-6 after starting 0-4.
Depending on what happens in the Chiefs-Jets and
Chargers-Browns games next weekend, a win against Kansas City in two weeks could suddenly have Oakland atop the AFC West.
Considering how this season has transpired for the Raiders, that’s nothing short of a pre-Christmas miracle.
Key plays
OAKLAND’S FIRST INTERCEPTION OF THE SEASON >> Paxton Lynch rolled left and zipped the ball into traffic in the end zone. Bowman broke up the pass intended for tight end Virgil Green and fell to his back. The ball took another deflection off Reggie Nelson and landed right in Bowman’s chest while he still lay on the ground. Not only did the interception end an historic drought and prevent Denver from scoring first, it kick-started a touchdown drive the other way that put the hosts up 7-0.
JALEN RICHARD’S RECEIVING TD>> Carr found his backup running back over the middle from 6 yards out with 6:22 left in the third quarter. Richard’s score was his second of the season and first since Week 2, when he reeled off a 52-yard touchdown run against the Jets.
Oakland took a 21-0 lead, enough cushion to last the remainder of the game. CORDARRELLE PATTERSON’S GAME-CLINCHING CATCH >> On third-and-8 from his own 15, Carr lofted one up for Patterson near midfield. Somehow, Patterson came down with the ball and broke a couple tackles before going down at the Denver 31-yard line. The play gave Oakland a first down heading into the two-minute warning and sealed the win for the Raiders.
Key players
DENICO AUTRY >> Autry had
two sacks in his first nine games of the season. He chipped in two on Sunday alone, combining for 17 yards lost for the Broncos. Both sacks came on third downs, and forced Denver to punt facing fourth-and-longs. DEREK CARR >> He didn’t throw much, but the Raiders quarterback only threw incomplete six times. Two of those came on his first two throws of the game, when he airmailed Jared Cook and Seth Roberts. After that, Carr was efficient in leading Oakland’s offense, finishing 18 for 24 with 253 yards and two touchdowns.
TREVOR SIEMIAN >> The Broncos backup quarterback entered late in the third quarter when starter Paxton Lynch went down with an ankle injury. Siemian went 11 for 21 with 149 passing yards and two touchdowns to give Denver a fighting chance. In the end, though, his efforts fell just short.
Extra points
• Amari Cooper was knocked unconscious late in the first half when Broncos safety Darian Stewart delivered a hit across the middle. Cooper stayed down for several minutes before walking off with the help of two trainers. He didn’t return to the game with a concussion.
• Marshawn Lynch had a season-high 26 carries on Sunday. His previous high of 18 came in Week 1. Coaches said they wanted to feature Lynch more and they made it happen. Despite the increase in bulk, Lynch only ran for 67 yards against Denver’s top-five run defense.
• Marquette King pinned the Broncos inside their own 20 four times on six punts. His highlight of the day came when Patterson caught a punt right out of the air on the 2-yard line.